WASHINGTON – Since his call-up in mid-May, Chase Anderson has been the Diamondbacks' best starting pitcher, but catcher Miguel Montero sees room for the rookie right-hander to be even better.

"He's still learning, and he's still got to find a way to work ahead in the count," Montero said. "He's been behind in the count too much and been getting away with it."

Though Anderson's strike percentage (63.4) and his percentage of first-pitch strikes (60.2) are only slightly worse than league averages, he agrees wholeheartedly with his catcher's assessment.

"That's exactly true," Anderson said. "You just make it so much harder when you get behind in the count. Sometimes I'm able to battle through it, and sometimes I'm not."

Anderson, who will make his 16th start Tuesday night against the Nationals, believes he's wasting too many pitches by having to battle back into counts.

His outing on Thursday against the Marlins was his third consecutive start in which he's needed 99 pitches or more to get through six innings. He's pitched effectively each time, but he believes he could be going deeper.

"Hopefully, I can work into the seventh or eighth inning, instead of getting out after 100 pitches in the sixth inning," he said. "That's not desirable. You want to be 100 pitches at nine innings, when the game is over with."

Still, with a 3.16 ERA in 851/3 innings and 13 of 15 outings in which he's allowed three earned runs or fewer, Anderson is showing he might deserve a spot in next year's rotation.

"He's starting to kind of impress me, to be honest," Montero said. "I think he's capable of pitching in the big leagues."

Pickoff problems

Though the Diamondbacks had three pickoff attempts result in errors on Saturday and Sunday in Miami, manager Kirk Gibson said it wasn't a factor in why he had Mark Trumbo playing left field instead of first base on Monday, saying he wanted to find a way to get Jordan Pacheco into the lineup.

Still, it was clear the pickoff issues with Trumbo were something a concern for Gibson, who said he reviewed all three plays on video to see what happened.

"Where the throws were, they all seemed to be kind of low," Gibson said.

Gibson met with Josh Collmenter on Monday afternoon to make sure the right-hander was healthy and ready to make his next start, scheduled for Friday against the San Diego Padres. Collmenter, working with decreased velocity, was hammered by the Marlins for five runs in four innings on Sunday.

"He assures me he feels fine," Gibson said.

Short hop

Prior to Monday's game, the Diamondbacks optioned right-hander Bradin Hagens to Triple-A Reno and recalled right-hander Will Harris, who had a 0.99 ERA in 452/3 innings for Reno. Hagens allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 22/3 innings. Harris entered Monday's game in the 11th and gave up the game-winning homer to Adam LaRoche.

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Notable: Anderson had to work out of several jams, but he made it through six innings against the Marlins on Thursday, giving up three runs on nine hits and two walks. … It was his sixth consecutive quality start. He has a 2.19 ERA during that stretch. … Strasburg has had 11 starts in which he has allowed three earned runs or more; he had nine such starts last year. … Strasburg gave up three runs in seven innings against the Diamondbacks on May 13.

Aug 21, 2014: Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) is doused by water after scoring the winning run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 1-0. Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports

Aug 21, 2014: Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera (3) forces out Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill (2) and throws to first for a double play during the second inning at Nationals Park. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 21, 2014: Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson (23) successfully challenges a call made by umpire Bob Davidson (61) during the first inning of the game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 21, 2014: Diamondbacks shortstop Cliff Pennington (4) forces out Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth (28) and throws to first for a double play during the first inning at Nationals Park. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 20, 2014: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) is doused with Gatorade after hitting a walk off RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3-2. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 20, 2014: Commandant of the Marine Corps general James Amos reacts after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 20, 2014: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk off RBI single during the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3-2. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 20, 2014: Diamondbacks center fielder Ender Inciarte (5) hits a two run homer run against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3-2. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals' Asdrubal Cabrera (left) runs to the dugout as the Arizona Diamondbacks' Miguel Montero reacts after grounding into a double play on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP

Washington Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera watches Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta round the bases with a home run during the first inning Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta celebrates with his teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the first inning off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Aug. 19, 2014, at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Harkey speaks with catcher Miguel Montero, shortstop Didi Gregorius and starting pitcher Chase Anderson on the mound in the second inning on Aug. 19, 2014, during the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals celebrate at home plates as first baseman Adam LaRoche scores after hitting a walk off home run off Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Will Harris at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta celebrates at home plate after hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon celebrates with his teammates after scoring on right fielder Jayson Werth sacrifice fly in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

Ender Inciarte of the Arizona Diamondbacks makes a catch on a fly ball hit by Adam LaRoche of the Washington Nationals in the second inning at Nationals Park on Aug. 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond throws to first base to complete the double play during the first inning on Aug. 18, 2014, against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Didi Gregorius of the Arizona Diamondbacks signals to the dugout for help after colliding with Wilson Ramos of the Washington Nationals on Aug. 18, 2014 in the fourth inning at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Patrick Smith/Getty Images